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A review by kp_hobbitreads
Branded by Fire by Nalini Singh
4.0
#0.5 Beat of Temptation: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#0.75 Whisper of Sin: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#1 Slave to Sensation: ★★★★✮ | 4.5 stars
#2 Visions of Heat: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#2.5 Echo of Silence: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#3 Caressed by Ice: ★★★★★ | 5 stars
#3.5 Stroke of Enticement: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#4 Mine to Possess: ★★★☆☆ | 3 stars
#5 Hostage to Pleasure: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#5.1 Dorian: ★★★✮☆ | 3.5 stars
#6 Branded by Fire: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
This is our first full length book with a changeling/changeling pair, and while it's not a new favorite in the series, I did end up really enjoying it.
Mercy is a DarkRiver sentinel who is starting to feel the pressure to find a mate now that the rest of the sentinels are settling down. But, unfortunately for her, the only person that pushes her buttons just right is Drew Kincaid, a SnowDancer lieutenant and wolf. When a young changeling scientist is kidnapped, the two must work together to not only bring him home, but figure out who took him and why. Along the way they have to decide if this passion between them is just some casual fun to let off a little steam or something a whole lot more permanent.
While I really love both Drew and Mercy as characters, I did find myself getting a little irritated with Mercy because it felt like she kept going back and forth. She would get really mad at Riley for how he was reacting and then talk about how it was natural for him to behave that way. She seemed to run kinda hot and cold with him and that lasted a little long for my taste. But once they found their stride together, I couldn't help but root for them as they really do compliment each other wonderfully. They are both completely devoted to their families and their respective packs, and I really liked they way the worked through their issues of dominance. Riley had to learn to not let his protective instincts cage Mercy and Mercy had to learn to let him in and care for her in his own way. Though they definitely have an antagonistic relationship at the beginning of the book, it is underlined by a sincere respect of each other and the positions they hold which I really liked to see.
As far as the macro plot in this book we do learn some more about the Ghost's activities, see quite a bit of council scheming, and the Human Alliance making big waves.
Also, I could have absolutely done without the veiled homophobia in the line: “In my day, we liked men who looked like men.” *eye roll emoji*
Three Thoughts:
1. Love all the little hints and foreshadowing we are getting about Kaleb and his motivations.
2. Sasha and Lucas's news made my heart happy.
3. “Be gentle with him, Mercy. He’s got a heart as big as Texas—he'll die for you without blinking. But he doesn't expect anyone to do the same for him.” My heart ached for Riley after reading this line, but it also made me love Mercy for the way she opened up to him and the bond after this.
Ultimately, this is a great installment in this series, and I'm glad these two got their HEA.
content warnings: sex (on page), bomb, violence, kidnapping, suicide, mental compulsion/mind control, loss of a loved one (in the past), nightmares, murder
#0.75 Whisper of Sin: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#1 Slave to Sensation: ★★★★✮ | 4.5 stars
#2 Visions of Heat: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#2.5 Echo of Silence: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#3 Caressed by Ice: ★★★★★ | 5 stars
#3.5 Stroke of Enticement: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#4 Mine to Possess: ★★★☆☆ | 3 stars
#5 Hostage to Pleasure: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#5.1 Dorian: ★★★✮☆ | 3.5 stars
#6 Branded by Fire: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
This is our first full length book with a changeling/changeling pair, and while it's not a new favorite in the series, I did end up really enjoying it.
Mercy is a DarkRiver sentinel who is starting to feel the pressure to find a mate now that the rest of the sentinels are settling down. But, unfortunately for her, the only person that pushes her buttons just right is Drew Kincaid, a SnowDancer lieutenant and wolf. When a young changeling scientist is kidnapped, the two must work together to not only bring him home, but figure out who took him and why. Along the way they have to decide if this passion between them is just some casual fun to let off a little steam or something a whole lot more permanent.
While I really love both Drew and Mercy as characters, I did find myself getting a little irritated with Mercy because it felt like she kept going back and forth. She would get really mad at Riley for how he was reacting and then talk about how it was natural for him to behave that way. She seemed to run kinda hot and cold with him and that lasted a little long for my taste. But once they found their stride together, I couldn't help but root for them as they really do compliment each other wonderfully. They are both completely devoted to their families and their respective packs, and I really liked they way the worked through their issues of dominance. Riley had to learn to not let his protective instincts cage Mercy and Mercy had to learn to let him in and care for her in his own way. Though they definitely have an antagonistic relationship at the beginning of the book, it is underlined by a sincere respect of each other and the positions they hold which I really liked to see.
As far as the macro plot in this book we do learn some more about the Ghost's activities, see quite a bit of council scheming, and the Human Alliance making big waves.
Also, I could have absolutely done without the veiled homophobia in the line: “In my day, we liked men who looked like men.” *eye roll emoji*
Three Thoughts:
1. Love all the little hints and foreshadowing we are getting about Kaleb and his motivations.
2. Sasha and Lucas's news made my heart happy.
3. “Be gentle with him, Mercy. He’s got a heart as big as Texas—he'll die for you without blinking. But he doesn't expect anyone to do the same for him.” My heart ached for Riley after reading this line, but it also made me love Mercy for the way she opened up to him and the bond after this.
Ultimately, this is a great installment in this series, and I'm glad these two got their HEA.
content warnings: sex (on page), bomb, violence, kidnapping, suicide, mental compulsion/mind control, loss of a loved one (in the past), nightmares, murder